Jul. 26, 2013
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Ariel Castro is led into court for a pretrial hearing. / Mark Duncan, AP

by Doug Stanglin, USA TODAY

by Doug Stanglin, USA TODAY

Ariel Castro, charged with the abduction of three women in Cleveland, pleaded guilty Friday in a deal with prosecutors that could spare him the death penalty.

The deal called for life in prison without the chance for parole plus 1,000 years. The judge in the case will hand down the final sentence on Aug. 1.

Castro, a former school bus driver who turned 53 earlier this month, pleaded guilty to 937 criminal counts, including kidnapping, rape and aggravated murder.

By accepting a plea deal, the three victims in the case - Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight - will not have to testify in court. The women's law firm, Jones Day, issued a statement saying the women are relieved by the plea.

"They are satisfied by this resolution to the case, and are looking forward to having these legal proceedings draw to a final close in the near future," the statement said. "They do not wish to speak to the media or anyone else, and they thank people for continuing to respect their privacy as they grow stronger."

Castro appeared in court Friday morning shackled - wearing his orange prison jumpsuit, a full beard and glasses - and looked around the courtroom.

As the hearing got underway, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Michael Russo asked Castro if he received his glasses and whether they were OK. Castro replied: "Yes it is, your honor, thank you."

The judge asked Castro whether he had read the plea agreement, discussed it with his lawyers, was aware of its contents and consented to its terms.

"I am fully aware," he replied.

Asked whether he understood that there would be no trial, he answered, "I am aware of it."

Castro was far more interactive than in previous court appearances when he mostly kept his head down and eyes closed. He answered the judge's questions in a clear, intelligible voice, saying he understood the proceedings.

"My addiction to pornography and sexual addiction in general has taken a toll on my mind," he told the judge. "I would like to state I was a victim as a child and it just kept going."

When the judge told him he would be classified as a sexually violent predator, he said he understood, but disagreed with the classification that he is violent.

He also said that he told his lawyers when he was arrested that he would fully cooperate with the FBI and "tell them everything." He said he knew when he was arrested that "they'd throw the book at me."

Castro pleaded guilty to abducting the three young women over an 11-year period, holding them hostage in his home and raping them repeatedly. He had pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing.

The final decision on sentencing is up to Judge Russo. Judges often follow the terms of a plea deal, but are not bound by it. Trial was set for Aug. 5.

Castro was arrested May 6 after Berry escaped from her room and began shouting at the front door, alerting neighbors. Police then found the other two women inside the run-down, four-bedroom home.

The abductions extended over 11 years, beginning with Knight's kidnapping in 2002.

Berry has a 6-year-old daughter who was born inside the house where she was held. DNA tests showed that Castro is the father.

The two aggravated murder charges stem from a single instance during the fourth pregnancy of Knight, who was the first woman to disappear. One aggravated murder charge alleges premeditation. The second alleges that the murder took place during a kidnapping.

The indictment covers the entire period of captivity, from the Aug. 22, 2002, disappearance of Knight to May 6, when Berry, missing since April 21, 2003, and her child escaped Castro's house and led police to Knight and Gina DeJesus, missing since April 2, 2004.